At Radiant Life Church, we believe the best way for people to grow spiritually is to learn to feed themselves. However, we also understand that getting started can be very difficult for many. For this reason, at the start of each year the leadership team at RLC puts together a Spiritual Growth plan to assist you on your journey to life change. Below are the books and resources for 2017. You can also download a PDF copy of the plan by clicking on the button below. We hope you join us as we seek to grow together!

January book of the month:

I will: Nine traits of the outwardly focused christian by thom rainer

Could you be the answer to the problems you see? Every day we are faced with the needs of those around us. Emotional. Physical. Spiritual. What are we to do about it? Are these problems for our pastors to address or is there a way for the church member to make an impact that will last? Bestselling author Thom S. Rainer answers these questions by offering nine simple traits that you can incorporate into your life no matter your background, stage of life, or sense of capability. You can do it. Now it’s time to just stand up and say you will!

February book of the month:

The Bait of Satan by john bevere

The Bait of Satan exposes one of the most deceptive snares Satan uses to get believers out of the will of God–offense. This trap restrains countless Christians, severs relationships, and widens the gulfs between us. Jesus said, “It is impossible that no offenses should come” (Luke 17:1). Although you will encounter offense, you can choose how you will react. In this new twentieth anniversary edition, John Bevere shows you how to identify the traps ahead of you and escape the victim mentality. With declaration-style prayers and testimonials from people whose lives have been changed by his message, this book will inspire you to stay free from offense and its destructive power. Don’t let anyone affect your relationship with God!

March book of the month:

Seven-mile miracle by steven furtick

It’s Good Friday. The Son of God is giving up his life. What does he want to say to us in His final hours? What does He tell the people standing at the foot of the cross, to pass down to the ages? He speaks only seven short statements. Words of forgiveness, salvation, relationship, abandonment, distress, triumph, and reunion. Seven statements that mean everything. In Seven-Mile Miracle,

Pastor Steven Furtick shows us how Jesus’s last words offer mile markers for our journey in relationship with God. It’s a lifelong journey and it’s not always easy. But Jesus is both our guide and our destination as we travel. Put your feet on a proven path—the road that Jesus walked.

April book of the month:

Grace is greater by kyle idleman

The writer of the letter to the Hebrews said, “See to it that no one misses the grace of God.” Over the centuries much ink has been spilled on the subject of grace. Yet perhaps nothing is as hard to

explain as God’s grace. It doesn’t make sense. It’s not fair. It can’t possibly cover over what I’ve done. The best way–perhaps the only real way–to understand it is to experience it. But too often in our churches we’re not getting grace across and grace is not experienced. Bestselling author and pastor Kyle Idleman wants everyone to experience the grace of God. Through the powerful medium of story, Grace Is Greater leads readers past their hang-ups toward an understanding of grace that is bigger than our mistakes, our failures, our desire for revenge, and our seemingly impossible situations. No sin is so great, no bitterness so deep that God’s grace cannot transform the heart and rewrite the story.

may book of the month:

How to be rich by andy stanley

You probably don’t feel rich. Rich is the other guy. Rich is having more than you currently have. But you can be rich and not feel it. And that’s the problem. Andy Stanley is convinced that most of us are richer than we think. We just aren’t very good at it. It’s one thing to BE rich. Andy wants us to be GOOD at it!

june book of the month:

If by mark batterson

If is a powerful little word. Some people are stuck in “if only,” trudging through lives marked with regret. But God wants us to live lives marked with possibilities, with the “what if” attitude that looks forward to the future with confidence. Why? Because the answer to “If God is for us, who can be against us?” is “No one.” God is always on our side. Every day, in every way. With his trademark enthusiasm and contagious joy, Mark Batterson helps readers overcome feelings of guilt, fear, and doubt, because in Christ there is no condemnation. Unpacking the promises of Romans 8, he shows readers that they are more than conquerors–right now and forever. And because of that, the possibilities for their lives are limitless.

july book of the month:

Emotionally healthy spiritually by peter scazzero

Peter Scazzero learned the hard way: you can’t be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature. Even though he was a pastor of a growing church, he did what most people do:

Avoid conflict in the name of Christianity

Ignore his anger, sadness, and fear

Use God to run from God

Live without boundaries

Eventually God awakened him to a biblical integration of emotional health, a relationship with Jesus, and the classic practices of contemplative spirituality. It created nothing short of a spiritual revolution, utterly transforming him and his church.

august book of the month:

On being a servant of god by warren wiersbe

Warren Wiersbe shares with pastors and ministry leaders what he wishes he had known about ministering to others when he began his own Christian pilgrimage.

september book of the month:

10,000 reasons by matt redman

10,000 Reasons reveals the stories beyond the well-known church anthem, fusing global worship leader Matt Redman’s own encounters of God with those from believers throughout the ages. In just four years, “10,000 Reasons” has become one of the church’s most popular modern worship anthems in times of triumph as well as trial. In this book, global worship leader Matt Redman connects the dots between singing the song and living the life. In addition to sharing details behind the song’s creation, this book takes readers beyond the song. Matt explores the influences and experiences that have taught him how to trust God in all situations—from his own personal trials to stories of hymn writers like John Wesley as well from current and ancient heroes of our faith.

october book of the month:

Have a happy family by friday by dr. kevin leman

Every member of a family plays a vital role in the health and happiness of the household. Everyone is important, deserves to be treated with love and respect, and needs to know that when they make mistakes they will still be loved unconditionally. And when every member of the family is pulling for each other and on the same team, everybody wins. But is this kind of family life even possible? Parenting expert Dr. Kevin Leman says it is, and he’s ready to show moms and dads exactly how they can make it happen in their family–in just five days.

november book of the month: Too busy not to pray by bill hybels

For over two decades Too Busy Not to Pray has stood as a classic on prayer, helping Christians all over the world slow down to draw near to God. During those years, the world certainly hasn’t slowed down. If anything, the pace, intensity and number of distractions have only increased. Brokenness and pain seem to have increased as well, with news of civil war, poverty, broken families and sex-trafficking touching us daily. The urgent need for prayer is clear, but busyness still keeps many of us from finding time to pray. Two truths haven’t changed in all these years: God is the same powerful, just, holy God he’s always been; and true prayer―prayer that changes us and allows us to participate in God’s work in the world―can’t happen on the fly.

december book of the month: jumpstart your priorities by john maxwell

Based on his Businessweek bestseller Today Matters, John Maxwell offers his roadmap for success by helping you seize the present. The way you prioritize and spend your time each day impacts your ability to reach your goals. Whether you are a new leader or looking to expand on your success, this book will help you focus by exploring how to maximize the potential of the most important day of your life–today. Offering inspiring quotes and lessons, thought-provoking questions, and space for reflective notes, over the course of three short months this book will help learn to master the moment and set you on the path toward fulfilling your aspirations.